Mayor John Cranley said this morning he has enough votes on city council to spend $175,000 on a consultant to study the city's minority contracting and set up an Office for Minority Inclusion at City Hall.

Cincinnati's record for awarding city contracts to African-American and female-owned businesses is not good and has been criticized for years.

Cincinnati leaders are pledging to involve more minority contractors in real estate developments that receive some city subsidy.

Mayor John Cranley and seven of nine council members are supporting a motion to create a law that would attach an inclusion memorandum of understanding to such projects. Cranley said it follows examples from the private sector.